Full-Time Paralegal
The Disability Law United (Disability Law United) is hiring a full-time paralegal to support our team of attorneys and provide administrative support to our Director of Operations. This position is ideal for a recent college graduate who is thinking about going to law school, and who would like to gain experience in the nonprofit and legal world. Although this role is based in our Denver office, you will be working remotely during the pandemic. Paralegal or administrative experience is not required, but we do request a commitment of at least two years.
Ideal Traits of a Paralegal Candidate
- Do you want a job where you are encouraged to take ownership of projects and find creative solutions, and where you receive frank but productive and encouraging feedback?
- Are you the most detail-oriented person you know?
- Do you have strong writing, communication, and organizational skills?
- Can you find humor in even the busiest days and most aggravating situations?
- Can you multitask? And by multitask, we mean Multi. Task. Do lots of different things at the same time. Juggle chainsaws. You know, the usual.
- Do you want to learn a lot about litigation and civil rights law?
- Do you enjoy administrative tasks and keeping things running smoothly behind the scenes?
If so, you just might be the paralegal Disability Law United is looking for.
About Disability Law United
Disability Law United is a nonprofit membership organization whose goal is ensuring that everyone can fully and independently participate in our nation’s civic life without discrimination based on race, gender, disability, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Our work includes education, outreach, and investigating and filing class action lawsuits nationwide. We represent individuals on a range of civil rights issues, but focus on the rights of people with disabilities and on the rights of people detained in immigration detention centers and prisons. Our educational projects range from one-time webinars and continuing legal education courses to providing technical assistance in the areas of disability rights and immigration detention conditions to other lawyers, advocates, and interested parties. We have attorneys in Denver, Berkeley, Los Angeles, and Nashville. For more information on our work, visit www.creeclaw.org.
The work at Disability Law United can be intense. For this reason—and because we’re all pretty cool people—we strive for a friendly, congenial workplace, which we try to foster through weekly office lunches, taking the staff out for drinks, and, during the pandemic, Zoom happy hours. We work hard, but try not to take ourselves too seriously. In pre-pandemic times—when we worked in the same physical space—we were joined by several office dogs.
What We Are Looking For
- Superior organizational, communication, and writing skills. Disability Law United has a heavy case load of complex litigation and educational projects. We need someone who can internalize the details of these projects and help us keep track of them, calendar constantly shifting litigation deadlines, manage case documents and files, and generally run all but the purely legal aspects of each case. In addition, we ask our paralegal to draft basic pleadings and correspondence, interview potential clients and witnesses, and assist with investigations, so strong communication and writing skills are a must.
- Strong computer skills. Our paralegal will do web-based research and use Microsoft programs (Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, and PowerPoint), as well as specialized litigation software. Although we prefer that you have experience with these programs, we will consider all otherwise qualified candidates and will provide on-the-job training as needed.
- Ability to work well with other people . . . and alone. You need to be comfortable and professional interacting with potential and current clients, court personnel, cooperating and opposing counsel, and the wide variety of people who call and visit our nonprofit. You also should be comfortable and efficient working with little supervision.
- Interest in the daily administrative aspects of running a nonprofit. This could include processing payroll, assisting with financial reconciliations, preparing invoices, and more. You should have a high tolerance for sometimes tedious projects, enjoy solving puzzles and thinking analytically, prioritize accuracy and integrity, and be highly organized.
- Willingness to do a bit of everything. We are a small nonprofit, so you have to be comfortable doing less glamorous things, like filing, data entry, making travel arrangements, or running out to pick up lunch. You will need a driver’s license and willingness to travel.
Salary and Benefits
We offer a salary of $40,000, along with health insurance, a retirement plan with employer matching, and three weeks of paid leave.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree.
Two-year commitment.
Proficiency in a second language is a plus.
Prior experience in paralegal and administrative work not required.
Experience with Microsoft programs (Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, and PowerPoint) preferred.
How to Apply
Email a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and college transcript to resumes@creeclaw.org. Please write “Admin Paralegal (YOUR LAST NAME)” in the subject line. If you are a person with a disability and need accommodations in the application process, please let us know in your cover letter. We really need to hear why you are right for this job and why it is right for you. Applying by clicking a link on a job posting site does not really convey that message.
Disability Law United is an equal opportunity employer that values a diverse workforce and promotes an inclusive culture. Disability Law United encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, and veteran status.